Blog
What Do People Regret Most?
Do you know that old French song, “Je ne regrette rien” by Edith Piaf? Here are the lyrics in English: No, nothing of nothing No! I don’t feel sorry about anything Not the good things people have done to me Not the bad things, it’s all the same to me. No, nothing of nothing No!
[ Read More…]
Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes
I have been reading a brilliant book by David Robson, a former BBC science correspondent, on why intelligent people often make foolish decisions. The book is called The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things. David Robson argues that smart people do dumb things not just as often as ordinary people, but they are
[ Read More…]
Why It’s Getting Harder to Know What ‘Death’ Is
There is an old saying which goes, ‘nothing in this world is certain, except death and taxes’, but it turns out that death is not so certain anymore. According to an article that appeared in the highly reliable Nature journal, scientists from Yale University have managed to restore some function in the brains of pigs
[ Read More…]
How Healthy Eating Can Lead to Eating Disorders
According to Victoria’s support group for eating disorders, eating disorders are becoming more common. Somewhere between 4 to 9 percent of the Australian population has an eating disorder. That is around one million Australians! And what is even more amazing is that new types of eating disorders are being discovered. There is now a condition
[ Read More…]
How Eating Disorders in Men Are On the Rise
In my last blog I talked about a new eating disorder, orthorexia nervosa – an unhealthy obsession with ‘healthy’ eating. And I told you that I was surprised to learn that somewhere between 4 to 9 percent of the Australian population has an eating disorder. That is around 1 million Australians! I have never had
[ Read More…]
How Hypochondria Can Develop Into Illness Anxiety Disorder
We’ve all met a hypochondriac; someone who always thinks something is wrong with them and is abnormally preoccupied about their health. The truth is we’ve also probably been hypochondriacs at some point, and developed irrational concerns about small symptoms. We’ve asked family members if a freckle is cancer or if a scratch has gone septic.
[ Read More…]
Is it scientifically possible to live forever?
Throughout history the lifespan of humans has been expanding. Our ancestors living in the stone-age (the Palaeolithic period) only lived to around 33 years of age. Civilisation and farming helped extend our lifespan and in Classic Greece people lived on average to around 41. In ancient Rome, if you survived until 20 you could have
[ Read More…]
Does Charisma Really Exist?
Six months ago, Australia held a national election, and more than once I heard it referred to as a contest between two non-charismatic leaders. One headline called the election a ‘low charisma contest’. Another journalist wrote that both leaders specialised in non-charisma. It turns out that our Prime Minister Scott Morrison must have at least
[ Read More…]
Is it Better to Be an Idealist or Realist?
Are you an idealist? What is an idealist? According to one online definition “an idealist is someone who envisions an ideal world rather than the real one” but idealists are often seen as naive, impractical, and out of touch with reality. Cynics say that idealists think that striving for perfection makes the world a better
[ Read More…]
Are You Bored by Boredom?
There is no denying that we will be challenged in this life. We will be disappointed by other people. We will face financial stresses, romantic disasters, the occasional crisis of identity but one life challenge that we underestimate is boredom! Sometimes life can be tedious, even if you are a motivated, ambitious person. In every
[ Read More…]
Why Australians Aren’t Buying Art
If you asked me to paint a picture I would produce something not even a kindergarten teacher would stick on a wall. I have no talents when it comes to fine art – painting, drawing, sculpting, but I do believe that every day all of us should do something creative. It is essential to our
[ Read More…]
Do We Become ‘Invisible’ As We Age?
A female friend of mine recently told me about a podcast she’s listening to called ‘The Invisible Women’s Society’. It’s a comedy audio drama about three women in their 50s and the challenges they face. It’s written by Australian author, Nikki Gemmell, who penned the best seller ‘The Bride Stripped Bare’. My friend loves this
[ Read More…]